GREYHOUND PREVIEW: A busy Saturday night ahead on both sides of the Irish Sea. At Limerick we are onto round two in the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial. It’s the Easter Cup semi-finals at Shelbourne Park and it’s Judgement Night at Perry Barr, live on the Gone To The Dogs You Tube channel.
Easter Cup Semi-finals
🟥 Randolph Scotts
🟦 Hawkfield Blue
⬜ Barefoot On Song
⬛ Yorkie Ollie
🟧 Clonbrien Treaty
🔲 Maireads Prince
Defending champion Clonbrien Treaty should be nearing peak fitness about now and is put forward as a tentative selection to come home in front of his rivals. It was at this stage last year that Treaty put in his best run and a similar path has followed this year as he bids to become a dual winner of the Easter Cup and take his Classic victories to five. Randolph Scotts has the draw to go well on the inside and he should turn in a prominent position. Hawkfield Blue is unbeaten in the event and got the better of Clonbrien Treaty last weekend but for me he looks to have a tricky draw on the outside of Randolph Scotts. Barefoot On Song was just behind Hawkfield Blue last time but will need a career best if she is to get involved.
Yorkie Ollie is a second runner in here for Graham Holland. Ollie has all the pace in the world but has become a little frustrating. He looked the winner heading into the third bend in his quarter final but checked up behind Cushie The Best. Ollie ran on again and was beaten about a half a length. The inform Maireads Prince completes the line up for Fraser Black. This dog is in the form of his life and will be looking to race prominently early. If he can master Treaty on the run to the corner, he has a massive chance. Clonbrien Treaty does have to improve a shade on the clock, but he has done so in the past and I expect a big run from the four-time classic winner this weekend.
🟥 Hopes Teddy
🟦 Da Bold Falcon
⬜ Jaytee Craze
⬛ Cushie The Best
🟧 Tarsna Maasai
🔲 Mustang Fever
Hopes Teddy has been exceptional in the event thus far and Pat Buckleys brilliant son of Confident Rankin is the one to beat from a perfect draw on the fence. Teddy impressed yet again last week when getting the better of the classy Tarsna Maasai on the run to the corner and he never looked in any real danger afterwards. Tarsna Maasai will again be his main rival for the early lead and its too soon to write of the Geoff Parnaby trained runner with the chance of further improvement to come. This will only be Tarsna Maasai’s third run of the year, and he has shown high quality form around here in the past.
Cushie The Best is another unbeaten runner in the event. He showed a willing attitude to get back in front after trouble at the third bend in his quarter final and is another who can race prominent. Can he match Teddy and Maasai to the bend? That is the big question. Mustang Fever is running well but will need to get first run at the pacesetters if she is to get involved for Sean Bourke. The big finishers are Da Bold Falcon and Jaytee Craze. Both greyhounds have stunning form over further and the duo will be putting in giant strides from halfway. The battle to the bend between these two is crucial. Whoever gets first run at the early pace setters will surely go close. I fancy Teddy to make all, but he will certainly be looking in his wing mirrors as the third bend approaches. Teddy is still available at 3/1 to win the event, and that is the play I would recommend this weekend.
Con and Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick
As expected, the opening round of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick produced some huge runs by a host of talented youngsters. Toolmaker Josepe was one of the standout performers for me and his litter brother Jacktavern Boom also impressed in defeat behind Fun in the Run.The afore mentioned pair of Boom and Josepe are litter brothers, and their sister is none other than wonder bitch Droopys Kathleen. Others to keep an eye on are Adamantconquerer and English raider Ballymac Axel. Axel got the better of Bogger Pat who is expected to step forward from last week’s effort. Eight second round heats will be run this Saturday night with the top three in each progressing into the last twenty-four.
Judgement Night at Perry Barr
An enthralling nights racing awaits at Perry Barr on Saturday evening as Judgement Night rolls into town and the action will be streamed live on the Gone To The Dogs YouTube channel. There are a host of high-quality races due to be run over two, four and six bends. Deliveroo can go well in the puppy race at 7:18 but he will need to pull out all the stops to get the better of Romeo Tomcat. Romeo flew in his recent trial and if he can produce a run near to his latest solo effort, he will be impossible to beat.
Magical Bluebear has not won a race since Oct of last year, but his latest effort suggested he was about to return to form. He was a little unlucky well a well backed favourite behind Transfusion here last time and can get the better of his main danger Fair Joe in the two-bend contest at 7.36. The sprinters are again in action in the 8:28 where there is an abundance of quality on show. It does look like a bit of a minefield for punters, but the vote just goes to Romeo Kingpin who can hopefully make clever use of his rails draw.
The 9:36 race could be run to suit Kilmore Dancer. The son of Ballymac Bolger has a huge engine as he displayed in a recent trial run at the track, but he does need room to operate. He should get a nice run around on the inside and prove to strong for his rivals late in the day.
Good luck to all connections with runners this weekend.
Barry.
